Al Harrington: 2012-13 Orlando Magic player evaluations

Over the next few weeks, Brian Schmitz and I will evaluate the performance of the players who finished the 2012-13 season on the Orlando Magic roster. Today, I’ll look at the second-oldest player on the Magic roster.

Background: Last May, after the Denver Nuggets were eliminated from the playoffs, Harrington underwent what he thought would be a routine procedure to repair torn meniscus cartilage in his right knee. Harrington developed a dangerous staph infection, and the infection and the subsequent surgeries to try and control the infection ravaged his knee. In August, the Magic acquired Harrington in the 12-player, four-team Dwight Howard trade. Harrington worked hard to come back, and he made his season debut on Feb. 26, scoring nine points to help the Magic beat the Philadelphia 76ers 98-84. Harrington played in nine more games, but team officials decided to stop playing him in order to allocate more time to the team’s rookie and second-year players.

Strengths: Magic officials loved Harrington’s professionalism as he endured the most frustrating season of his pro career. He accepted the team’s decision to sit him from March 17 onward. In the brief time he played, he was rusty, but he had moments in which he demonstrated he can help a team with his savvy on offense and his experience.

Needs to improve: Harrington’s knee never quite reached 100 percent, and he expects to make further strides this offseason. “For the most part, I think I played well, being what I had to go through and in the situation I was in,” Harrington said. “But I’m really looking forward to this summer and next season. Next season, I’m going to come back with a chip on my shoulder.”

The future: Because of his age,Harrington doesn’t fit into the Magic’s long-range plans, and he said he doesn’t expect the team to bring him back. He’s due $7.15 million in 2013-14 and $7.6 million in 2014-15, but his salaries for those seasons are only half-guaranteed. So, if the Magic waive him this summer, the team would owe him about $3.6 million for 2013-14 and $3.8 million for 2014-15. The Magic likely will try to trade him, and he’d like to play for a contending team. “I don’t think I really have a future here, but we’ll see how it all plays out,” Harrington said after the season ended. “The thing about the NBA now is it’s all a numbers game. We’re not players anymore. We’re contracts. We’re numbers. So we’ll just see if I fit in there, and obviously they want to play young guys, and I’m far from being a young guy. So we’ll just see.”